SMEDA invites MSMEs for free registration to avail policy incentives

LAHORE, Jul 09 (APP):The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) has accelerated efforts to promote business registration through its SME Registration Portal (SMERP), paving the way for enterprise formalization across Pakistan.
The initiative is part of SMEDA’s commitment to providing an enabling business ecosystem to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to help them scale and flourish, thereby contributing to the national economic growth as envisioned by the government, SMEDA Chief Executive Officer Nadia Jahangir Seth told media here Thursday.
SMEDA, under the guidance of Ministry of Industries and Production, is working with a renewed vigor to implement the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s MSME development vision, for which, the entrepreneurs, especially women and budding businesses, are encouraged to register through https://smerp.smeda.org/ or by visiting SMEDA’s website and take the first step toward being recognized, competitive and future-ready entities
Speaking about the importance of formalization, SMEDA CEO said, Pakistan continues to face significant informality challenges, with a large proportion of enterprises and workers operating outside formal systems. This limits access to finance, reduces productivity, weakens competitiveness and restricts compliance with international trade requirements such as GSP-Plus obligations and emerging sustainability standards. She emphasized that SME registration is not merely an administrative process but a gateway to economic opportunity, business sustainability and long-term resilience. “Formalization enables SMEs to strengthen their business identity, access finance and markets, improve credibility and participate more effectively in national and global value chains,” she stated.
Ms Seth said SMEDA’s SME Registration Portal offers enterprises a free and simplified mechanism to initiate their formalization journey. “Registered MSMEs can benefit from business advisory services, capacity-building programs, networking opportunities, exposure through trade fairs and exhibitions, and stronger linkages with financial institutions and larger enterprises,” she said.
It is notable that SMEDA’s ongoing collaboration with the International Labour Organization aims to strengthen Pakistan’s enterprise formalization agenda. Both the organizations have jointly launched Pakistan’s first National SME and Worker Formalization Roadmap under the “SME Formalization and Just Transition” initiative.
The roadmap provides a coordinated national framework to simplify business registration, strengthen labour compliance, support supply chain due diligence and facilitate SME participation in the formal economy.
Through awareness campaigns, training sessions, help desk services, digital facilitation tools and policy advocacy, SMEDA and ILO are working together to make formalization more accessible and beneficial for SMEs across sectors including textiles, garments, auto parts manufacturing and services.